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Duke  University  Libraries 


D03792642X 


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REPORT 


LOUISIANA  RELIEF  LODGE,  NO.  1, 


TO    THE 


M.  W.  GRAND  LODGE   OF  LOUISIANA, 

SUBMITTED    FEBRUARY  10,  1862. 


To  the  M.  W.  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the  State  of  Louisiana  : 

In  accordance  with  the  custom  heretofore  observed,  on  the  return 
of  another  Annual  Communication,  Louisiana  Relief  Lodge,  No.  1, 
begs  leave  In  present  the  following-  Report: 

We  have  again  to  return  our  sincere  and  heartfelt  thanks  to  our 
Supreme  Grand  Master  for  his  loving-kindness  in  blessing  our  city 
with  health  during  the  past  year,  and  keeping  far  from  our  midst 
the  destroying  pestilence.  While  the  Relief  Lodge  has  escaped  the 
great  personal  exertion  and  increased  expenditure,  always  accom- 
panying an  epidemic,  other  demands  of  a  new  and  novel  character 
have  been  imposed  upon  us. 

Immediately  on  the  secession  of  Louisiana  from  the  old  Union, 
many  Brethren  from  the  Northern  States,  then  resident  among  us 
and  unable  to  obtain  employment,  were  desirous  of  returning  to 
what  they  deemed  a  more  congenial  clime.  Whenever  the  case  was 
found  worthy,  relief  was  granted  to  enable  the  Brother  to  reach  his 
home,  as  a  reference  to  the  annexed  statistical  table  will  show. 
After  hostilities  had  commenced,  the  Relief  Lodge  adopted  as  a  rule 
to  grant  no  assistance  to  able-bodied  men,  who  had  no  families 
depending  upon  them — believing  that  when  our  independence  was  at 
stake,   it    was  the  duty  of  all  to  defend  it,  and  that,  when  no  other 


\'\ 


means  of  support  could  bo  obtained,  no  good  Mason  would  desire  to 
eat  the  bread  of  idleness?  while  the  ODportunity  was  offered  to  him 
to  enter  the  army,  and  protect  the  rights  and  honor  of  our  country. 
Since  that  time  our  charities  have  been  principally  confined  to 
widows  and  orphans,  and  cases  of  sickness.  Relief  has  been  grant- 
ed in  several  instances  to  Masons  in  the  army,  who  were  unable, 
cither  from  sickness  or  improvidence,  to  reach  their  homes  or  return 
to  camp. 

The  subject  of  unaffiliated  Masons,  and  female  side  degrees  lias 
been  so  often  brought  to  the  notice  of  this  Grand  Lodge,  that  it  is 
superfluous  to  again  repeat  the  numerous  cases  of  both  descrip- 
tions which  are  continually  applying  for  relief.  It  is  only  necessary 
to  say  that  the  evil  has  not  been  abated. 

In  our  last  report  it  was  stated  that  our  Tomb  had  been  renovated 
and  an  additional  wing  built,  at  a  cost  of  $1,500,  of  which  amount 
$1,000  had  been  paid,  and  a  note  of  $500  given  for  the  balance. 
Doubts  were  expressed  as  to  our  ability  to  meet  this  note  at  maturity; 
but  it  is  gratifying  to  state,  that  it  was  duly  honored.  There  is  auo- 
ther  wing  still  to  be  built,  before  the  structure  will  be  completed 
according  to  the  original  design.  But  the  idea  of  finishing  the 
Tomb  has  been  abandoned  until  the  return  of  peace  and  resumption 
of  business. 

The  "Ancient  Charges"  declare  that  "Masonry  hath  been  always 
injured  by  war"  and  "ever  flourished  in  times  of  peace."  If  any 
one  ever  doubted  this  truth,  our  present  War  of  Independence  must 
convince  the  most  skeptical.  Large  numbers  of  the  active  members 
of  our  Lodges  are  absent  on  the  tented  field,  and  of  those  who  remain 
at  home,  all  who  are  able-bodied  are  members  of  volunteer  compan- 
ies. The  Lodges  have  done  little  or  no  work  during  the  past  year. 
Their  Treasuries  have  been  exhausted,  and  the  demands  upon  them 
for  charity  have  been  frequent  and  urgent.  It  is  gratifying  to  state 
that  notwithstanding  the  numerous  other  calls  made  upon  them,  the 
Contributing  Lodges  have  made  every  effort  to  pay  their  dues  to  the 
Belief  Lodge.  Although  our  receipts  have  been  materially  reduced, 
and  the  usefulness  of  the  Lodge  thereby  circumscribed,  no  worthy 
case  has  been  turned  empty  away. 

Our  Secretary,  Bro.  A.  DeSola,  has  prepared  the  following  state- 
ment of  the  receipts  and  expenditures  of  the  Relief  Lodge,  for  the 
year  1861. 


/  /"'- 


RECEIPTS. 

Balance  on  hand,  January  1st,  18G1 $424  -0 

Orders  in  hands  of  Secretary,  January  1st,  1861,  since  paid...   366  00 

Received  from  Friends  of  Harmony  Lodge,  No.  58 :"_M  00 

George  Washington  Lodge,  No.  65 300  00 

Dudley  Lodge,  No.  66 234  00 

Marion  Lodge,  No.  68 830  00 

Alpha  Home  Lodge,  No.  72 100  00 

Louisiana  Lodge,  No.  102 50  00 

Ocean  Lodge,  No.  144 192  00 


4    2319  29 


Donation  from  Mount  Moriah  Lodge,  No.  44,  St.  Louis $  20  00 

Council  of  High  Priesthood 5  00 

1'cliean  Chapter  Rose  Croix,  No  11  :   and  Eagle 

Council  K— H,  No.  6 2  50 

Supreme  Council  of  Charleston 2  40 

General  Relief  Committee,  I.  O.  0.  F 20  00 

P.  G.  M.  Win.  M.  Perkins   81   75 

Returned  by  relatives  of  a  Monte  Videan  Brother 65  00 

"        a  Canadian  Brother 10  00 

"         an  Irish  Brother 5  00 


Received  for  use  of  Vaults. 


81  bo 


80  00 
35  00 


Total  disbursements  in  1861. 


in  hands  of  Secretary,  not  cashed. 


S     2515  94 
,      1,619  00 

896  94 
264  00 


Amount   in  Treasury,  Dec.  31st,  1861 S       632  94 


DISBURSEMENTS. 

SOUTHERN*         CONFEDERACY. 

To  applicants  from  Alabama  $  10  00 

"      Georgia 30  00 

"      Kentucky 10  00 

"              "       Mississippi GO  00 

•'       Missouri 30  00 

•'             **      SouthCarolinn 40  00 

"      Texas 279  00 

"             "      Virginia 35  00 


494  00 


Amount  forwarded $       191  00 


4 

Amount   brought   forward S      494  00 

UNITES  STATES. 

To  applicants  from  Connecticut $  10  00 

"      Illinois   15  00 

"             "      Indiana 15  00 

"      New  York 29  50 

"             "      Pennsylvania 35  00 

"             "      Wisconsin 10  00 

144  50 

EUROTE,         ETC. 

To  applicants  from  Ireland $    17  00 

"      France   10  00 

"      Monte  Video,  S.  A 65  00 

"      Nova  Scotia* 10  00 

"      St.  Thomas,  W.  I.* 10  00 

111!  (Ml 

To  Masons  of  Louisiana $  10b*  00 

To  Widows  and  Orphans  of  Louisiana 135  00 

241  00 

Note  for  addition  and  repairs  of  Tomb  $500  00 

Tomb  expenses 18  50 

518  50 

Secretary's  Salary  for  1801 60  00 

Tyling,  Printing,  Stationery,  Postage,  etc 49  00 

Total  disbursements  for  1861 $  1,619  00 


RECAPITULATION  OF  DISBURSEMENTS. 

To  Masons  of  Louisiana $  106  00 

"  Southern  Confederacy 145  00 

United  States 94  50 

"  other  foreign  jurisdictions 112  00 

457  50 

To  Widows  and  Orphans  of  Louisiana 135  00 

"  "  Southern  Confederacy 349  00 

United  States 50  00 

534  00 

Amount  forwarded $      £91  50 

*  Lodges  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  England. 


5 

■ 

Amount  brought  forward S     001   50 

Note  paid  for  addition  to  tomb 500  00 

Tomb  expenses 18  50 

518  50 

Secretary's  Salary,  Printing,  Tyling,  etc 100  00 

Total  disbursements $  1,610  00 


We  have  again  to  return  our  thanks  to  several  Masonic  bodies  for 
the  sympathy  and  assistance  extended  by  them  to  us.     By  referring 

to  our  receipts,  it  will  be  seen  that  their  sympathy  was  not  confined 
to  words,  and  the  material  aid  bestowed,  testified  their  appreciation 
of  our  "work." 

Past  Grand  Master,  Win.  M.  Perkins,  has  again  presented  to  the 
Lodge,  his  annual  donation  of  $31  75,  thereby  proving  the  same 
interest,  in  our  success  which  he  has  always  exhibited  since  the  for- 
mation of  the  Relief  Lodge. 

Two  Brethren  of  other  Jurisdictions  have  returned  the  amounts 
granted  them,  and  the  relatives  of  a  deceased  brother  re-imbursed 
the  Lodge,  for  the  expenses  attendant  upon  his  last  sickness  and 
funeral.  Cases  like  these  stand  out  like  an  oasis  in  the  desert,  and 
encourage  ns  to  persevere  in  our  labors.  For  it  is  a  consolation  to 
know  thai  among  the  many  applicants  for  relief  that  some  are  truly 
worthy,  and  are  not  unmindful  of  their  plighted  faith. 

Hoping  that  our  "work"  may  always  be  such  as  will  merit  a  con- 
tinuance of  the  approbation  of  the  Grand  Lodge,  this  report  is  re. 
spectfully  and  fraternally  submitted  on  behalf  of  the  Lodge. 

JAMES  B.  SCOT,  W.  M. 

La.  Relief  Lodge,  No.  1. 


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